Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Councillors Agree To Utilise UK Shared Prosperity Fund To Support Castle Recruitment & Training

3rd May 2024

Photo Gallery

Photograph of Councillors Agree To Utilise UK Shared Prosperity Fund To Support Castle Recruitment & Training

Economy and Infrastructure Committee members today (2 May 2024) agreed to direct £100K from the Council's share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to fund a new staff training programme at the Inverness Castle Experience.

The funding will enable the project team to provide specialist visitor attraction training to young people identified through partners at Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).

Set up costs will be required to support preparations for the Inverness Castle Experience opening in summer 2025 and will include the recruitment of the Inverness Castle Experience team. The recruitment process is set to begin this summer.

Chair of Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, said: "It’s great to witness the Castle Project taking shape, on schedule and on budget, as we enter this important phase. A co-ordinated marketing, promotion, and recruitment campaign over the coming months will be needed to ensure a successful launch. This makes it even more real."

He added: "The Inverness Castle Experience promises to be a major attraction for visitors and locals alike. With what promises to be a world class destination, which will not only attract more people to Inverness with the associated benefits for the Highland economy, as it will also act as a gateway for people to explore and many other areas of Highland and enjoy the diverse."

Highland Council and High Life Highland have worked in partnership to deliver the Inverness Castle capital project since 2015. The Project has been governed by the Inverness Castle Delivery Group, Co-Chaired by Fergus Ewing MSP and the Leader of the City of Inverness and Area and with a Board comprised of Highland Council Members, Highland Council and High Life Highland officers and industry representatives. The role of the Delivery Group will come to a natural end when the Project is delivered.

Also agreed at today’s meeting were the proposed governance arrangement going forward, which will come into effect in November this year after the appointment of the Head of the Inverness Castle Experience is made.

To maintain the existing partnership a new Management Board has been proposed to fulfil the role soon to be vacated by the Delivery Group.

The Board’s remit will be to provide strategic direction and guidance to the Senior Management Team of the Inverness Castle Experience, with membership of the Board reflecting that of the Delivery Group. It will be chaired by the Chair of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastucture Committee.

The remit and composition of the Board can be seen in Item 4 at Appendix 5 of the report to this Committee.

Economy and Infrastructure Committee members also noted the progress of the project and the Executive Summary of the Operating Plan, all of which can be seen in today’s report to Members on the Council’s website.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

7/2/2025
Community Wealth Building Strategy on the agenda
Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will have the opportunity to discuss progress being made for the Community Wealth Building action plan when they meet next week.   The Council's Community Wealth Building Strategy 2024 - 2027 provides an alternative approach to economic development and a practical response that aims to keep wealth within a local area.  
5/2/2025
Deal for Council to take over D&E Coaches completedThumbnail for article : Deal for Council to take over D&E Coaches completed
Yesterday (Tuesday 4 February) the Leader of The Highland Council Cllr Raymond Bremner along with the Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee Cllr Ken Gowans visited the depot of D&E Coaches.  This followed the completion of the deal for the council to acquire the business.  
4/2/2025
Highland Local Development Plan - Have Your SayThumbnail for article : Highland Local Development Plan - Have Your Say
The Highland Council is preparing a new and important planning document called the Highland Local Development Plan.   The plan will ultimately be used to determine planning applications and steer future development and investment in your area.  
4/2/2025
Project helps to renew interest in low-demand void housing in Caithness
Good progress is being made to create sustainable tenancies in Caithness by enhancing the appeal for re-letting of low-demand void council housing.   The Council's Void-Plus Policy involves improvements being made to voided properties to increase the appeal of these homes.  
4/2/2025
Interim Community Council elections - Deadline for candidates approaches - 11 February 2025
Anyone interested in wishing to stand as Candidate for the Community Council's listed below have until 12noon on Monday 10 February.  Complete and submit the online nomination which is available on the Council's website https://www.highland.gov.uk/ccelections.  
4/2/2025
Caithness Area Place Planning community event
Several public drop-in sessions are being held across Caithness during February with displays of options for the future masterplanning for the area.   Council officers will be on hand to explain the proposals and answer any questions.  
31/1/2025
Highland growth opportunities showcased to international audienceThumbnail for article : Highland growth opportunities showcased to international audience
The Highland Council's Leader Councillor Raymond Bremner attended Scottish Cities Week in London (20-22 January) to promote investment opportunities in Inverness, the Highlands and the Highland Council area.   Scottish Cities Week aims to provide a focused opportunity to create and develop long-term strategic partnerships, with a wide array of investors and developers.  
30/1/2025
Highland Council appoints Chief Officers
The Highland Council has appointed Ruth Fry as Chief Officer - Human Resources and Communications and Paul Reid as Chief Officer – Facilities and Fleet Management.   The appointment of Ruth Fry completes the new senior management structure of the Council's Corporate service cluster under the leadership of Allan Gunn, Assistant Chief Executive – Corporate.  
23/1/2025
Highland Council To Acquire D&E Coaches Ltd To Help Reduce School Transport CostsThumbnail for article : Highland Council To Acquire D&E Coaches Ltd To Help Reduce School Transport Costs
The Highland Council is pleased to announce, that following a period of negotiation and due diligence, it intends to acquire the entire shareholding of D&E Coaches Limited.   Provision of home to school transport is a high-cost statutory function of the Council which has caused significant budget pressures in recent years.  
22/1/2025
Opportunity to represent your local community with Interim Community Council elections - Sinclairs Bay, Tannach and Bower in CaithnessThumbnail for article : Opportunity to represent your local community with Interim Community Council elections - Sinclairs Bay, Tannach and Bower in Caithness
Nominations are invited from people seeking election to the Community Councils that have fallen into abeyance since the last round of interim elections and to reform those that have submitted a petition to be reformed.   This is your chance to help represent the views of your community to The Highland Council and other public agencies.